Landmines in the Path of the Believer

by Charles F. Stanley

Satan doesn't usually hit us with an all-out frontal attack. It's the subtle landmines that do the most damage. They're hidden just below life's surface, and at the slightest misstep—BOOM! Suddenly you find yourself flown right off the path, feeling separated from God and His blessings, humiliated, estranged from the love and respect of friends and family.

Dr. Charles Stanley addresses nine main landmines that every Christian needs to be able to identify:

Pride
Jealousy and Envy
Insecurity
Compromise
Unforgiveness
Disappointment
Fear
Immorality
Laziness

Life may be a minefield, but that doesn't mean you have to live in fear. Dr. Stanley spells out the biblical principles for avoiding and defusing each of these landmines. In the midst of spiritual warfare, this book is a call to live in the strong peace of God.

Genres: Christian, Christian Living, Religion, Nonfiction, Christianity

236 pages, Hardcover

First published September 4, 2007

About the author

Dr. Charles F. Stanley is the senior pastor of First Baptist Church Atlanta, founder of In Touch Ministries, and a New York Times best-selling author who has written more than fifty books, and has sold more than nine million copies. He demonstrates a keen awareness of people's needs and provides Christ-centered, biblically-based principles for everyday life.

Charles Frazier Stanley was born September 25, 1932, in the small town of Dry Fork, Virginia. The only child of Charley and Rebecca Stanley, Charles came into the world during a time when the entire nation felt the grip of the Great Depression. To make matters worse, just nine months later, his father Charley died at the young age of 29.

However, Charles refused to let the Great Depression or the difficulties of his life define him. Instead, like his father and grandfather before him, he clung to God’s Word and took up the mantle to preach the gospel to whoever would listen.

Dr. Stanley’s motivation is best represented by the truth found in Acts 20:24, “Life is worth nothing unless I use it for doing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus—the work of telling others the Good News about God's mighty kindness and love.” This is because, as he says, “It is the Word of God and the work of God that changes people’s lives.”

Dr. Stanley’s teachings can be heard weekly at First Baptist Church Atlanta, daily on “In Touch with Dr. Charles Stanley” radio and television broadcasts on more than 2,800 stations around the world, on the Internet at intouch.org, through the In Touch Messenger, and in the monthly, award-winning In Touch magazine.

Reviews

[Allison · Rating 2 out of 5]

I was OK with the book...kind of long winded to make his point, until chapter 10 when he said that people whose lives "...reflect an agitating presence of anxiety or a sorrowful countenance of depression. They understand why they are battling feelings...it is the result of sin-rebellion against God". I am done with it. To have anyone think that my depression or anxiety is a result of my sins needs to go and have a lesson in neuroscience.

[Sheila Myers · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good book for every Christian to read. I deducted one point for the constant repetition of a lot the points that were being made. They were unnecessary and distracted me from the other information being presented.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent, sound, wise, biblical advice - proactively avoid the most common pitfalls in life (pride, jealousy / envy, insecurity, compromise, unforgiveness, disappointment, fear, immorality, slothfulness). Highly recommended!

[Brent Soderstrum · Rating 3 out of 5]

Charles Stanley is one of my favorite authors and in this book he sets out the landmines that Christians should be wary of in their Christian walk. The ones that hit close to home were jealousy, insecurity, unforgiveness, disappointment and fear. I am going through something in my life in which I face these landmines on a daily basis. Stanley gives good advice such as prayer and staying in God's word. Basically pointing to maintaining your relationship with God. Not much is given in this book regarding how do deal with these landmines on a daily basis. The ones that don't leave and seem like they never will. I was hoping for more than buck up and keep doing what you need to do and God will take care of it in His timing which is perfect. I know all that and I know there is no magical thing or action to bring about resolution. Just getting worn down in the battle and hoped for something that was there and really was unfair of me to expect.

Lots of repetition but good reminders.

[Anne-Marie Madore · Rating 5 out of 5]

Charles Stanley's messages regardless of how they are presented will benefit the one receiving them. His book, Landmines In The Path Of the Believer: Avoiding The Hidden Dangers, greatly opened by eyes to the devious ways of Satan. The book focuses on landmines used by Satan: Pride, Jealousy and Envy, Insecurity, Compromise, Unforgiveness, Disappointment, Fear, Immorality, and Laziness. Charles Stanley shares experiences from his own life and that of others that prove what Satan is capable of, given the opportunity.

Each chapter gave me reason to stop and reflect on my own life. I recognized landmines Satan placed in my path to hinder my walk with God. I read some chapters more than once. I wanted to fully grasp what was being said about a particular landmine.

This book will be kept in my Faith library. A great resource to have on hand. As a believer, I want to be aware and avoid, the hidden dangers of any landmine Satan tries to place before me.

Thank you, Charles Stanley, for sharing your knowledge and wisdom in a book that will benefit its readers in a profound way.

[Karry · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is one of the worst books I've read about Christianity and faith. The author is not a good writer and his narrow-mindedness would deter anyone seeking to find God. I found his focus on a vengeful God off-putting to say the least. The title should have forewarned me that this might not have been the book where I would find a loving peaceful savior.
I will look elsewhere to find books proclaiming the God is love.

[Dianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

An excellent book for all Christians to read...regardless where you are in your walk with the Lord. Reminds us how Satan tries to deceive us & puts blocks (landmines) on our way & what we need to know how to fight back.

[Q Cash · Rating 3 out of 5]

Exactly what you would expect out of a Dr. Stanley book. Always having good information and learning from a truly Godly man and pastor. Each chapter of possible landmines to your faith poses challenges and questions in your mind to be a better Christian and person.

[Maria DC · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very well written book that integrated biblical verses as well as practical scenarios.

[Kyle · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not a bad read. Super conservative which made it a turnoff some times. A bit dry for my liking but good material. Lots of repetition which is good to get the point across

[Steve · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great description of distractions and other things that can trip you up.

[John C. Kupka Jr · Rating 5 out of 5]

Timely reading

This book is a good resource for finding those areas of your walk with Christ that we often overlook in day to day living in this fallen world.

[Jennah · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wow, what a book! It is definitly the ideal book for every true Christian. I learned so much from reading this book. The landmines that Dr. Stanly discusses are: Pride, Jealousy and Envy, Insecurity, Compromise, Unforgiveness, Sexual Sin, and Laziness. He takes each of those landmines and teaches us how to identify, avoid, or defuse them. I 100% recommend you reading this, you won't regret it and you definitly will learn a lot.

[Stuti · Rating 3 out of 5]

A very insightful books with helpful methods for serious and also recurring, perhaps not so serious but still detrimental problems. There were a few things in it that I disagreed with, but otherwise, I liked the book and will probably read it again. (I'm sorry for no particulars of what I disagreed with: I read this book over the course of five months so a lot of it is very foggy in my mind.)

[Debbie · Rating 5 out of 5]

A wonderful book; somewhat redundant, but necessary for a slow learner like me. A great Christian perspective on how to rely on God to navigate past the obstacles put in our way by the enemy. Also, practical advice on how to recover from the destruction caused by tripping one of these tactically placed landmines.

[Rosa Cline · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 star

I really enjoyed reading this devotional. Each chapter is written as if you were sitting and listening to a sermon. BUT it's not a 'finger in your face' type of lessons. One that you can learn from whether you are a new Christian or someone that has been 'in the Faith' for years. Lessons within are for us all. Very well written; will be purchasing it for my home library

[Rosa]

This book really highlights how easily we can be sucked into negative emotions without realizing it. It reminds me that Satan deceptively allows negative emotions into our lives and in doing so destroys us spiritually as a testimony for God.

[Michael Pack · Rating 3 out of 5]

I used this book as a curriculum for my Sunday School when I was teaching the college and career class. I found the principles to be helpful, and we would all be wise to heed the warnings found in these pages, as they are based on God’s Word.

[Lauren · Rating 4 out of 5]

I finally finished this book, it took me a while but it was very informative and some parts really resonated with me. I found it very encouraging and uplifting and I would recommend it to anyone who is walking with God.

[Nichole · Rating 5 out of 5]

You have to go into this book with an open heart, none of us our perfect and this book will point out where you may be failing or walking into a war zone. The book warns you about paths you may be on and if you continue on them the destruction you can provoke upon yourself.

[Michael · Rating 1 out of 5]

Had trouble getting past the first few chapters.

[Cate · Rating 2 out of 5]

I see his points, but it's a bit stiff--more legalistic than helpful in some places

[Sheila Roberts · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent!

[Ken · Rating 5 out of 5]

So far a really good book. Especially the two chapters on pride.

[Lawrence · Rating 5 out of 5]

I highly recommend this book to all Christians. The devil is always placing landmines in the path of every believer and we need to be aware of them daily.

[Sandy Nowak · Rating 4 out of 5]

Good follow up to When the Enemy Strikes. No one tackles the subject of temptation and the enemy like Charles Stanley

[Joanne T Kroeker · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was pretty good